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“The moment inbetween what you once were, and who you are now becoming, is where the dance of life really takes place.” ~ Barbara De Angelis "Nothing happens without personal transformation." I decided one day I wanted to change. I wanted more from life. I realized that if you want more, YOU have to make it happen. You have to go to it and create it. The most powerful weapon against a mediocre life is practice. And just like a fire, the human spirit needs to be lit again each day.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

it's my birthday, it's my birthday...

So, I have been working really hard lately....trying to boulder more and strength train, etc. Now I'm climbing stronger than ever. I just wish I could start getting on the sharp end of things though. I'm still not there yet. Too scared. However, the more 10s I can start climbing on and start feeling more comfy on, I feel like I'll be leading soon.

As of the end of last week though, I got the flu on top of bronchitis! UGH! So, yeah, now that I kinda feel better overall, my chest is still full of that crap! I need rest. No climbing! This sux. I'm hoping though that this rest will actually help me instead of make me weaker. I hope to be back in the gym on Thursday. Keeping my fingers crossed!

I'm 35 today! Whoo-hoo! I'm not really where I thought I would be at 35. I'm not making the money nor do I have that dream job i thought I would have, but I never knew either that I would be climbing on big rocks and having awesome friends that I have! I still don't know if I will ever meet that man of my dreams, but everything happens for some kind of a reason. Life is mysterious.

Wow!

Sometimes, Sue, having more fun and being happier comes from looking for each in crazy, new places; instead of waiting for them to come from where you've found them before or where others are now finding them.

And I do mean crazy. Not just from the old standbys of travel, adventure, and romance, but from stretching, reaching, and growing. Accepting new responsibilities for your happiness, totally accepting others, and grasping even higher ideals. Philosophically taking yourself to places few have ever dared before.

Red hot smokin' love,

The Universe

There's always a higher level to go, Sue, when it comes to happiness.

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

a blog from another blog!

Mindfulness and Psychotherapy

Regaining Control of Your Life: Monday’s Mindful Quote with Tara Brach
Posted: 22 Feb 2010 09:24 AM PST

There is a tradition on the Mindfulness and Psychotherapy blog. Every Monday, I cite a quote or a poem that is related to mindfulness and psychotherapy in some way and then explore it a bit and how it is relevant to our lives. For me, quotes and poetry can often sink me into a state of greater understanding. So for today, here is a quote by Tara Brach:

"When we put down ideas of what life should be like, we are free to wholeheartedly say yes to our life as it is."

Well, here we are again, the “shoulds.” Or the classic saying, “I need to stop shoulding on myself.”
What should life be like anyway? Should it be like the stories and images we see in a romantic comedy? Should it be like the destruction and chaos we see in suspense or horror flick? Or maybe we should all be traveling a stream of light blissfully riding the love train.

Well, here are 3 realities of life to chew on:
Life is like this — What’s this? It is exactly whatever you are experiencing right now.
Here’s another reality, life is always changing. That means that whatever “this” is right now, will become something else.

One last truth, we are active participants in our health and well-being.
However, it takes saying “yes to our life as it is” in order to have a choice in how we want to make a change.

In other words, if we are feeling sad, it’s important acknowledge this so we know the reality of the moment and what are capabilities are. We can choose to feel the sadness or if we are really depressed and we feel the sadness will take us down a deep dark rabbit hole, maybe we can just acknowledge it, let it be, and choose to do something different in the moment.

So, I guess there’s a fourth truth: Being present to life as it is, is a prerequisite for having more choice in life.

The beauty of this is that we can actually cultivate the ability to become more present to our lives by practicing mindfulness.

(Here is a short video to practice right now – you may have already viewed this, but even so, one practice in mindfulness is to bring a beginner’s mind to any practice, as if it was for the first time).
So at the end of the day, there are some things we can’t choose (i.e. our genetics, our biological or inherited families, some life events), but in being present we can choose how we want to relate to them and that can make all the difference.
To hear more about Tara Brach, you may want to check out interviews with her on 5 Keys to Emotional Freedom and Radical Acceptance.
As always, please share your thoughts, stories and questions below. Your interaction provides a living wisdom for us all to benefit from.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

interestingly enough....

I checked my TUT message this morning, and guess what? It is so dead on! Lately, it really has. Crazy!

It totally applies to several things that have been going on my life lately....how could it know this? ;)


Sometimes, Sue, when things take longer than you thought they would, it's just a gentle reminder from your greater self (me), that you have more time than you thought, and that there's a journey to enjoy.

Yeah, like all the time in the world.


The Universe

***Besides, Sue, just because it's taking longer than you thought it would, doesn't mean stuff isn't happening, even as you read these words.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

to each his own...

You're right, Sue; too much self-discipline will discourage your playful, wandering imagination. It'll snuff out the flames of inspiration and creativity. And it'll weigh you down with routines and logic. It simply isn't "spiritual."

But, then, neither is too little.

Tallyho,

The Universe

***Just think what you know to think, say what you know to say, and do what you know to do, Sue. Every day, lots and lots.

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

took the words right out of my mouth!!!

You might call it spiritual logistics, Sue, but sometimes you have to move away, to get closer.

Or you might just call it weird.

Either way, it helps to remember it from time to time.

Tallyho,

The Universe

***And while we're at it, Sue, sometimes you have to let go, to stake your claim. Be still, to move forward. Give, to receive. Cry, to feel the joy. Pretend, to make it real. Fake it, before you make it. And sometimes, oddly enough, you must first decide to feel their love, to find it was there all along.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Quote for the day!

“The most fundamental aggression to ourselves, the most fundamental harm we can do to ourselves, is to remain ignorant by not having the courage and the respect to look at ourselves honestly and gently.”

~ Pema Chödrön

from a friend

Dear Friend,

Despite the high opinion
I have of you
I know that you’ve been feeling down lately
And for you have touched my heart
In so many ways
I hope that the words reaching you
This very moment
Don’t lose any of the love they were written with
For they certainly don’t lose any truth:
No matter how hard it might rain,
The sun will always shine again.

Monday, February 8, 2010

thawing out

In hot yoga Friday night, we talked about how everything is thawing out for spring. All of the snow and ice storms have come, and now spring is around the corner. Things will start thawing out soon.

Our hearts can now thaw out for another year to evolve and grow. Everyone changes each year, hopefully they do! We talked about our hearts and about how much we will give this year and how much we will open ourselves up...what shape our hearts will be in this year.

I look forward to every spring and to every new year. Especially since I started climbing.

Now, for some reason, I am not. I have no clue what shape my heart will be in after it thaws.
I think it has been frozen in denial for quite some time. Like when your toes are frozen (or they feel like they are frozen...b/c they are numb). With the thawing, comes the feeling...the numbness wears off and then you feel pain.....my heart is starting to really see the reality of this 'thaw'.

I thought about it on my mat during class. I felt sad. I have no idea what i will be able to give this year. Do i run and hide or just throw myself out there and see what happens? I'm afraid. Most people run as soon as they start to feel something....something they are afraid of. I don't really want to be one of those people.

If thawing out brings pain, then the tears just mean that you are really strong. Those who can't show emotion...those who can't be vulnerable at all are not strong. Feelings and emotions are not a sign of weakness. It shows strength. I guess there is truth to my favorite quote, "Courage is being scared to death...and saddling up anyway." Well, I'm scared to death...

Maybe this spring means mingling in a different light? New connections?

Will I still saddle up?

Thursday, February 4, 2010

And I'll say it again!

"When you let your own light shine, you unconsciously give others permission to do the same."